Density of use as a criterion in the deselection and relegation of serials

Abstract

This study examines the effect of employing density of use data in making serial relegation decisions. It demonstrates that density of use favours the retention of used titles which occupy a small amount of shelf space compared with titles occupying a large amount of shelf space. Density of use may favour the retention of low‐use titles possessing a high density of use compared with a high‐use title occupying a large amount of shelf space. While the paper presents an easy method for identifying titles possessing a high total use but having a comparatively low density of use, the strategy fails to identify titles having a high density of use but which also have some scope for partitioning between open and closed access. It therefore outlines a simple method of partitioning these titles between open and closed access to increase the density of use of the open access collection.

Citation

Altmann, K.G. and Gorman, G.E. (2000), "Density of use as a criterion in the deselection and relegation of serials", New Library World, Vol. 101 No. 3, pp. 112-122. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800010324567